Journal release party

English department celebrates

BY CHRISTINE LALLY
HORNET STAFF WRITER
Published October 7, 1998

The CSUS English department will celebrate the publication of the first issue of "Calaveras Station," its yearly literary journal, on Thursday.

"I am very impressed with the final product," said English professor Olivia Castellano, the journal's faculty sponsor. "This issue exceeded all of my expectations and I am so pleased to see writers of such star quality here at CSUS."

"Calaveras Station" was developed in spring 1998 and features student-written poems, short stories and expository essays.

The entire campus is invited to participate in the free party celebrating the journal's release from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Lassen Hall, room 1100.

The event will feature students reading their debut works from the journal. There will be an open mike for audience members interested in sharing their literary work. Copies of the journal will be available for $5.

"I know CSUS has a lot of talent," said Kathy Sheehan, an English major whose poetry is featured in the journal. "The journal is the perfect place to showcase that talent and I hope it becomes a significant vehicle for creative expression for all CSUS students."

Sheehan, who will edit the next issue slated for release in May 1999, said "Calaveras Station" is an important addition to the campus because it allows writers to publish their work and be recognized by their peers and the general community.

The journal shares its name with the building that houses the English Department, Calaveras Hall. Castellano said that in Spanish, Calaveras means ghosts, bones and skeletons.

"On the surface the name might give an impression of death, but really it means following in the tradition of our ancestors," she said. "Writers need to be aware of the bones, the tradition and most importantly, the writers who came before them."

Sheehan said the word Œstation' came from a visualization of a train or a vehicle taking students toward freedom of expression.

Castellano and fellow English professor Stephanie Tucker are currently working on turning "Calaveras Station" into an English course completely dedicated to creating and publishing a literary journal. Castellano said she hopes the course will be offered by the fall 1999 semester.

With the help of Associated Students Inc. Sheehan and other students involved in the journal are working on creating a literary journal club.

"In addition to a class, we want a student club in hopes of keeping the journal alive. Too many times a campus journal publishes once and it is never heard from. We will not let ŒCalaveras Station' die," said Castellano.

The journal is a joint project between the English Department and the Academic Achievement Center/Educational Opportunity Program. It is funded by a small grant from the College of Arts and Letters. Castellano said the journal is currently seeking further economic support.

The journal is collecting submissions until Nov. 6 for the next issue. "We are sending out an invitation to all departments on campus, engineering, chemistry, government, etc., to send in their submission," said Castellano.

For more information on submitting works for the next issue of "Calaveras Station," call Castellano at 278-5727. Submissions can also by left in the journal's mailbox in the English Department office in Calaveras Hall, room 103.